It is getting easier to buy drugs near schools in Blagoevgrad, students say

Over a period of a month, the police in Blagoevgrad (Southwestern Bulgaria) arrested ten people for drug distribution. At the same time, students alert that cannabis as well as synthetic opiates are very easy to find near school grounds.

Various amounts of cannabis, heroin and amphetamines were found in the detainees. Such drugs can be easily found in the areas near all schools, students from Blagoevgrad reported. Despite the daily police operations against the storage and distribution of drugs, dealers are becoming more and more and the number of customers is growing.

The main victims are children whose parents have gone abroad to work and they are left in the care and control of their grandparents.

We will call them Martin and Nicola. Both are grade 12 students at two different schools in Blagoevgrad. They say that they have repeatedly received offers, both from dealers outside the school and from their friends who have already become addicted to drugs.

"They hang around. I've seen them around the barracks, behind the fence, some standing outside and calling students, or they get on the phone beforehand, they call," Martin explained.

"As far as I know, they go somewhere, give drugs for cash, shake hands with a packet of dope and they're done," Nicola added.

Marin Mitov, the headmaster of the National Humanitarian High School in Blagoevgrad, has repeatedly reported to the police about sale of drugs in the area. In one case, he witnessed a deal himself.

"I saw them while they were exchanging something near a car. My car was parked next to it."

The drug market in Blagoevgrad is mainly flooded with cannabis, which also costs less. Synthetic drugs are also fashionable.

"Mostly marijuana, and lately it strikes me that there are a lot of amphetamines. Those are the two main ones," Nicola explained.

The main victims of the dealers are children who are not under parental control and those who have behavioural problems.

"The most susceptible are those children whose parents are abroad. This may be a place for the state to consider legislative changes that would oblige parents who are both abroad to take their children as well," the head of the school, Marin Mitov, said.

At this point, prevention remains the only way to tackle the problem. Many of the city's schools organise lectures with Ministry of Interior specialists. The topic is also compulsorily discussed in class.

"I think from the conversations we have and the cooperation we have with the police, they are doing their job and making an effort. In any case, these lectures are useful," Mitov said.

The other side is parents, who also need to get involved alongside teachers and police in the battle against drugs.

Ministry of Interiror, Prosecutor's Office conduct joint operation against drug-trafficking, 56 people arrested so far (photos)